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On April 21, 2017, NVAC filed a National Grievance against the Agency regarding the contracting out of bargaining unit work. In sum, without satisfying its bargaining obligations with NVAC, the Office of Delivery Operations within the Office of Community Care converted bargaining unit work to contractor performance. This violates our contract and constitutes an unfair labor practice. On July 13, 2020, the Parties signed the attached Settlement Agreement. The Agency admitted that it failed to provide NVAC with notice and an opportunity to bargain prior to contracting out bargaining unit work to a private company, Signature Performance, Inc. The Agency also agreed to distribute an electronic notice posting to affected bargaining unit employees. The posting was distributed by email on July 31, 2020.

Nearly 80 percent of Veterans Affairs employees surveyed by their workers union in July said endemic racism within the federal government’s second-largest organization is a moderate or serious problem, with more than half reporting they have witnessed discrimination against the veterans whom the agency serves.

On August 7, 2020, NVAC filed a National Grievance against the Agency for failing to bargain over the termination of telework at the Office of Information Technology (“OI&T”). Specifically, the Agency unilaterally ended voluntary telework it previously offered to OI&T employees. This will require non-clinical bargaining unit employees to return to their worksites at medical facilities during the pendency of a deadly pandemic. The Agency’s actions violate governmental guidance, the MCBA, and federal law.